Workforce and Economic Developer Tom Scott shares his two-year vision for
Monroe County with county commissioners during the Dec. 23 meeting. To his
right is Jeanette Harter, who was named director of Job and Family Services
on Dec. 23. Seated are several members of Team Monroe, active citizens,
business and community leaders dedicated to positive progress in Monroe
County.

by Arlean Selvy
Publisher
County budgets were discussed with
Jeanette Harter during the Dec. 23 meeting of Monroe County commissioners,
who also heard the routine monthly report by Tom Scott, workforce and
economic developer.
Scott revealed his two-year vision
for workforce and economic development.
Following his report, commissioners
commended Scott for the job he is doing.
Scott said, “The Vision calls for the
continuation of some efforts initiated in 2008, regarding a much needed
commitment to create a solid foundation of infrastructure, directly tied to
an enhanced quality of life ...” He noted in his Vision that,
“Achieving the goals and objectives disclosed within this Vision will
require the combined efforts of our elected and appointed officials,
business and community leaders and private citizens within a bipartisan team
approach that embraces, endorses and prioritizes application of both
compromise and vision.”
Current projects include
efforts toward the re-opening of the abandoned rail line south of Powhatan
Point, extension of the Black Walnut Parkway, utilization of the Black
Walnut Center as an events facility, water line and sewer extensions and/or
creation, airport expansion, excursion boat, incubator kitchen, enhanced
educational and library facilities, creation of horseback riding trails and
pursuit of federal funding.
Proposed projects include the
creation of expanded lodging facilities within the county and increased
workforce in the recruitment and/or retention of warehousing, manufacturing,
servicing or retail entities.
With regard to the rail line project,
Scott said it is vital to the fiscal health of an existing company and to
potential expansion of economic development along the riverfront.
Extension of Black Walnut Parkway is
not expected to evolve before 2018. Scott said the project will be kept in
the forefront, and an open dialogue maintained with government entities
vital for success. “The parkway extension is needed to enhance ingress and
egress to the Commerce Park,” said Scott. He noted it will enhance potential
for the park to begin fulfilling its potential possibilities.
Concerning the Black Walnut Center,
located in Commerce Park, Scott’s Vision notes the continuation of efforts
to market the facility as an incubator for businesses to utilize (as needed)
in transitioning to Commerce Park. He said offering the facility to “for
profit” promoters will serve to enhance the cash flow of the CIC, increase
tourism and awareness of the Black Walnut Center.
In his Vision for water line and
sewer extensions and/or creations, he mentioned Grizzle Ridge and Sardis
areas.
About airport expansion, the Vision
notes: “while dialogue has been established with FAA, this project can only
evolve when FAA requirements for pre-determined volume of flights are
achieved. Meeting those requirements can be enhanced by
recruitment/expansion of businesses that rely on aviation as an integral
part of their transportation needs.”
Concerning an excursion boat, the
Two-Year Vision notes this project “... represents a valuable asset in
enhancing tourism within the county. Dialogue continues, with a proposed
timeframe of Spring 2009, as the start-up date.”
The incubator kitchen, a project
which opened in 2008, represents potential for a myriad of benefits to
current and/or potential county residents/business es for expansion or
creation of operations.
“The kitchen provides opportunities
to utilize an inspected and licensed facility and potential for
additional facilities; plus mandated labeling, co-op and mobile meat
processing/packaging as well as creation of ‘Made Exclusively in Monroe
County’ recognitions,” wrote Scott.
Another success in 2008 was the
signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Belmont
Technical College and county commissioners.
Members of the Team Monroe Education
Committee with support from the leadership at BTC developed the MOU for
higher education offerings. Presented to commissioners June 24, the MOU
spells out what is expected of the county and what BTC will do as a key
partner coordinating regional higher education providers.
Scott wrote in the Vision that the
committee “must prioritize improved public school facilities and the
expansion of the number of library facilities within Monroe County.”
A dialogue with representatives of
Wayne National Forest re-opened in 2008 about the creation of horseback
riding trails. Trails would serve to enhance probability of increased
tourism as well as create potential for creation/expansion of smaller
commercial entities to service those who utilize the trails.
Regarding federal funding,
Scott wrote in his Vision statement that: “if the new Washington
administration follows through on initial indications that previously
required local matching funds requirement will be reduced, this may signify
pursuit of stagnant projects that had been shelved due to inability to
provide matching funds.”
Scott wrote that he, as Work-force
and Economic Developer for Monroe County, will continue to be the
facilitator and driving force in establishing, enhancing and maintaining
relationships with groups and organizations that have provided support or
advisement for Work-force and Economic Develop-ment.
Proposed projects include the
creation of expanded lodging facilities within the county and increased
workforce in the recruitment and/or retention of warehousing, manufacturing,
servicing or retail entities.
Scott said he could not
guarantee success in every project. He added, however, that, “A promise that
an exhaustive effort will be maintained in the relentless support in the
areas of enhanced Workforce and Economic Development for Monroe County is
provided with the presentation of the Two-Year Vision.”
Visitors attending the Dec. 23
meeting included several members of Team Monroe, which is facilitated by
Scott. Team members present were: Marjorie Baumberger, Ruth Ann
Ridgeway, Wayne and Karen Forshey, Hugh and June Hyre, Aaron and Charlene
Miller, Kiven Smithberger, Joe Urbanek, Joel Davis, Helen Carpenter, Dan
Greenlee, Charles R. Storey, Merry Vargo and Dennis Ward. Also attending
were Carl Davis, commissioner-elect; Jason Harter and Jim Williams.

~ Davis Sworn in as County Commissioner ~Carl
Davis was sworn in as Monroe County Commissioner at ceremonies held Dec. 30
in the Monroe County Common Pleas courtroom. Administering the oath of
office was Common Pleas Court Judge Julie Selmon. Holding the Bible for
Davis is his wife, Michelle.

Photo by Arlean Selvy

~ Price Sworn in as County Commissioner
~
Tim Price was sworn in as Monroe County Commissioner at ceremonies held Dec.
30 in the Monroe County Common Pleas courtroom. Administering the oath of
office was Common Pleas Court Judge Julie Selmon. Attending, from left, are
Price’s daughters Lauren and Leanna Price, and his wife, Rhonda Price, who
held the Bible for her husband.

~ Tustin Sworn in as County Engineer ~
Lonnie Tustin was sworn in as Monroe County Engineer at ceremonies held Dec.
30 in the Monroe County Common Pleas courtroom. Administering the oath of
office was Common Pleas Court Judge Julie Selmon. Raising his right hand,
Tustin placed his left hand on a Bible held by the Judge.

~ Black Sworn in as Sheriff ~
Chuck Black was sworn in as Monroe County Sheriff at ceremonies held Dec. 30
in the Monroe County Common Pleas courtroom. Administering the oath of
office was Common Pleas Court Judge Julie Selmon. Black’s wife, Michelle,
held the Bible for the ceremony.

~ Beth Rose Takes Oath of Office at Skyvue ~
Monroe County Clerk of Courts Beth Rose took her oath of office at Skyvue
Elementary, where her son Jared is a student. Judge Julie Selmon
administered the oath of office. Students are studying government and Judge
Selmon held a question/answer session. “They had some good questions,” noted
the Judge. Photo
Submitted

by Arlean Selvy
Publisher
Permanent appropriations for all
county budgets with the exception of the General Fund were approved last
week by Monroe County commissioners, who also approved the temporary
budget for the General Fund.
The temporary General Fund budget for
the first quarter only is $1,036,695.61.
Total 2009 permanent appropriations
for all other budgets, including Monroe County Care Center and Job and
Family Services, total $16,800,650.37. Of that amount the JFS budget totals
$3,498,325 which includes $2,771,325 in Public Assistance; $205,000 for the
Child Support Enforcement Agency and $522,000 in Children's Services.
Prior to approving the budgets,
officials discussed payment of bills with Jeanette Harter, who handles the
general fund budget, and Katrina Carothers, deputy auditor. Officials agreed
that only the bills with late fees will be paid.
Carothers indicated she had given the
various departments “a heads up” on what’s being done. Commissioner John
Pyles requested a memo be sent to department heads.
Patty Schoonover, Sardis EMS,
approached commissioners regarding a rental contract for the building
housing an emergency vehicle. The contract, between commissioners and the
fire department, was renewed at $200 a month.
Schoonover said there is a leak in
the roof and indicated tile is falling She said they haven’t looked at the
top of the squad to see if there’s any damage. According to discussion,
ceiling tile has fallen due to the leak.
Schoonover noted the retirement of
Cora Weyman from Sardis E-Squad. Weyman has served the squad for 33 years.
Officials commended Weyman for her
years on the squad. “That’s a lot of dedicated service,” said Pyles.
In other business, commissioners
signed contracts for HMO and PPO health insurance plans with the Health Plan
of the Upper Ohio Valley.
A resolution was adopted authorizing
commissioners to file an application with the state to participate in the
Industrial Site Improvement Fund program.
Wage increases were given to Adam
Lehosky, Jack Riley and Christina Gallagher to comply with the minimum wage
scale. The three work in janitorial positions at the courthouse.
The Dec. 30 meeting started at 8:30
a.m. and recessed at 8:55 a.m. when Pyles left to attend a meeting of the
board of elections. He returned at 9:35 a.m. and the meeting resumed.
An executive session was requested by Ronda Piatt, dog warden, for personnel
with regard to hiring. No action was taken after the session, which ended at
9:50 a.m.
Officials immediately went back into
executive session with Mike Seyer with regard to contracts at Monroe County
Care Center. According to Pyles, Seyer gave an update on the progress. The
session ended at 10 a.m.
From 10:40 until 10:53 a.m.,
officials were in executive session with Jeanette Harter as director of Job
and Family Services, with regard to firing. Following the session,
Commissioners Francis ‘Sonny’ Block and Pyles authorized Harter to complete
the unemployment forms for Debbie Haney.
The meeting adjourned at 11:30 a.m.
as Pyles had to leave for the day. Commissioner Bill Thompson was not in
attendance at the meeting.

RONALD J. MARKEY
Ronald J. “Ron” Markey, 52, 40921
Kindall Rd., Woodsfield, died Jan. 4, 2009 at his home. He was born March
24, 1956 in Akron, a son of Dorothy Griffin Markey, Lower Salem, and the
late John R. Markey. Online condolences may be express at
www.wattersfuneralhome.com.

JANET L. GRIFFIN
Janet L. Griffin, 92, New Matamoras,
formerly of Rinard Mills, died Jan. 3, 2009, at Marietta Memorial Hospital.
She was born on Feb. 20, 1916, in Monroe County, a daughter of the late
James T. “Tony” and Matilda J. Graham Scott. Condolences may be
offered at www.mslfuneralhome.com.

DONALD J. CLINE
Donald J. Cline, 73, 41208 Pleasant
Ridge Rd., Graysville, died Jan. 1, 2009 at Woodsfield Nursing and
Rehabilitation Center, Woodsfield. He was born Feb. 1, 1935 near Rinard
Mills, a son of the late Earl and Pearl Holland Cline.

CLARENCE R. HUNTSMAN
Clarence R. “Butch” Hunts-man, 66,
Beallsville, formerly of Woodsfield, died Jan. 1, 2009, at Wheeling
Hospital. He was born Oct. 5, 1942 in Marietta, a son of the late Russell
Conner and Mabel Huntsman.
Condolences may be expressed online
at: www.bauerturner.com

ELEANOR WEBER
Eleanor Weber, 81, Woods-field, died
Dec. 21, 2008 at Woodsfield Nursing and Rehab-ilitation Center. She was born
Aug. 23, 1927 in Monroe County, a daughter of the late Richard Bates and
Leona Dougherty Bates.
Condolences can be expressed at
www.bauerturner.com.

CLARICE L. ANDERSON
Clarice L. Anderson, 64, 45067 SR 7,
New Matamoras, formerly of Graysville, died Dec. 30, 2008, at Arbors of
Marietta. She was born Dec. 22, 1944 near Graysville, a daughter of the late
Luther James and Laura Wanda Harmon Anderson. Online condolences may be
expressed at www.wattersfuneralhome.com.

Dear Editor,
With regard to the Dec. 11, 2008,
letter to the editor submitted by Scott Fisher, I feel that I must respond.
While Fisher’s letter contains too many factual errors to address
individually, I will attempt to set the record straight on the most
egregious.
The current Ohio Supreme Court is
made up of all Republicans and only three of the nine of the U.S. Supreme
Court are Democrat appointees.
Not only is President-elect Obama
half-white, he has publicly praised his white mother and grandmother for the
job they did in raising him. Not only is he a lifelong Christian, a fact
that no credible source disputes, but he recently selected an ultra
conservative pastor to deliver the invocation at his inauguration. And
perhaps Fisher could enlighten your readers as to when Obama “proclaimed he
would stand with our enemy.” Who is that enemy and when did Obama make such
a proclamation?
Shame on Fisher for accusing the auto
workers for the economic problems of that industry who have had no voice in
determining the types of cars the companies chose to make. And shame on him
for portraying miners as uneducated robots who are incapable of independent
thinking. Blue collar workers have been the backbone of our economy since we
became industrialized.
Perhaps the most absurd claim is that
bankers are somehow victims of regulation. While some of them were
hoodwinked, most of them took advantage of loose regulations to line their
pockets and retirement accounts. As for Clinton and Carter being the
architects of this collapse, Republicans have held the Congress for 12 of
the last 15 years, six of which they also held the White House.
While some would say that it is
patriotic to speak up for what you believe (no matter how wrong it is), I
think that it is quite another to manufacture scapegoats for every ill in
society. How about some positive solutions, Fisher?
Ellen Graham Day
Pickerington

Dear Editor,
I read with sadness the news of the
possible closing of Woodsfield High School, but I also found myself fondly
reminiscing about the three years I spent there under the tutelage of
several tireless and dedicated educators.
Ms. Smithberger and Mr. Swisher
tackled math problems with the zeal of Roman gladiators. Mrs. Phillips and
Piatt inspired us with their love of literature and proper sentence
structure. Ms. Brown had so immersed herself in all things French that she
could have worked as a double agent. Doc Conner could recite the periodic
table backwards and never despaired in his efforts to explain to us
mysterious things like black holes. And no list would be complete without
saluting “the man of a thousand instruments,” Mr. Podlasiak, who ran the
music program like a battlefield drill sergeant. I would be remiss to not
mention my Dad, the custodian, who cut off dozens of locks for absentminded
students and fronted lunch money for other forgetful souls.
I am extremely proud to be a graduate
of WHS, and I know that I speak for hundreds of former students in extending
our deepest gratitude to all those professionals who gave so much of
themselves to us.
Ellen Graham Day
Columbus
Dear Editor,
Is the bookmobile in jeopardy? On
Dec. 9, 2008, a motion was made to renew the contract for bookmobile
services to Monroe County residents, and the vote was 4-3 in favor of
keeping the service. The three (3) dissenting votes were Frank Ellis, Alice
Kingry and Rodney Rufener. It would appear that they feel eliminating the
bookmobile would free up enough funds to operate a branch library in Sardis.
Would this action be fair to all other outlying areas of Monroe County? No,
I do not think it would be fair to cut the bookmobile to Monroe County.
It is my understanding that there
have been some added stops for 2009. Please check out the schedule to see
when it will be in your area. Also, teachers, please check the schedule to
see when it will be stopping at your school and check out the many services
available to you by the bookmobile.
I urge every resident that utilizes
the bookmobile to contact the Monroe County District Library Board of
Trustees and urge them to continue this service.
Also keep in mind all are welcome to
use the Monroe County Library services and the services of the bookmobile.
Sylvia Bowen
Beallsville

<Around
the Burnside
Business conventions are important because they demonstrate how many people
a company can operate without.
Why is it that at class reunions you
feel younger than everyone else looks?
Another one of our young ladies
passed a milestone the other evening. Aleisha Guiler, a member of the Monroe
Central basketball team, scored 33 points and surpassed the 1000 point mark.
As I mentioned a few weeks ago this is no little accomplishment. An
excellent example of the type of youth we have in our county. We have some
of the best.
To those of you reading this - Happy
New Year and the best in 2009. It’s time to make those new year’s
resolutions. You will never break your resolutions if you never make’em. I
don’t know why the first of the year is so special for making resolutions.
Can’t you make them during other times of the year? I’m making one
resolution, I’ll tell you about it later.
We stayed up to watch the ball drop
in New York City once again. Dick Clark has been doing it for over 30 years
and I think we’ve watched many of those years.
The celebration is not for those of
us who have been around for a few years. How can anyone enjoy standing
around waiting for the ball to drop, some since 10 a.m., with the weather at
20 degrees and the wind chill factor at zero degree, and have fun? As I am
writing, our thermometer is standing at eight degrees. I’d just love to be
hopping around having fun outside. They said there was a million on the
streets which I think, may have been a high estimate. Made you chilly just
to watch.
I spent most of the last day of the
year watching basketball and football on TV. I think from 12 noon til about
10 p.m. there are four or five football games on the first day of 2009 so
I’ll have something to watch the first day of 2009. It’s six hours into 2009
as I write. Nothing much better to do when it’s rather chilly outside. I
recall many years ago standing outside a store window watching a TV set
wondering how they could do this. Now they have it full of programs not
worth watching.
You do realize how old you are when
you watch a program such as the celebration from Times Square. They usually
bring out some of the so-called top singers to do their thing. It’s probably
just me, or my hearing aids are wearing out. I just can’t understand or make
out more than one or two words of the song they are singing, or should I say
yelling or screaming. I wouldn’t call it singing. A group of four or five
ladies in Hollywood wearing, not much clothing, jumped, screamed and wiggled
around all over the stage. Man, if this had happened back in my days, they
would have hauled them all off to the hoosegow. What I missed growing up!
Did you know that in China cats are
fair game? I understand they have catnappers. As a result, if you have a pet
cat you must keep it inside or a close watch on it or the nappers will have
it. Why?
As you probably know during the
Olympics they removed dog meat from their menus. I didn’t read about cats
until just a few days ago. As I understand, cats are a bit tougher than dog
meat but, none-the-less, a stray cat doesn’t stand a chance. The article I
read said that cat was used in a famous soup in China.
My new year’s resolution? If I buy
any canned soup or eat soup in a restaurant, I am going to be certain that
it is not a famous Chinese soup or even from China. This from a person who
once ate crow. Wasn’t bad either.
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day is
over so we can settle down until a new president is sworn in. Did I read
there were rumblings in our U.S. Capitol they should increase the tax on
gasoline 50 percent? Sounds about right.
I’ve decided that you can over do
watching TV. I started at 11 a.m. watching the Rose Parade. I could remember
watching it and saying, “Wouldn’t it be great to watch it in color?” I
watched most of it on the RFD channel. They had the same view as the big
boys and did not stop every three or four floats to show a commercial or
interview some big shot.
After the parade comes the football
games, four, maybe five. I lost count. What makes it worse, every team I
wanted to win, except one, lost.
I can start my withdrawal today as
there are only a couple of games and then one a day until the college season
is over. I think it ends the day you get this in the mail. I ended my TV
watching with the news. I don’s watch much pro-football as my favorite teams
are the Ohio teams and they sucked. Go Steelers.
I don’t know why I think of things
like this but I remember one year we decided to have a modern Christmas tree
and we purchased an aluminum tree, color wheel and all. I think we might
have used it a couple of years. It was supposed to be the latest thing in
Christmas trees. Did not seem like Christmas so we went back to the white
pine. Now we have a tree in a box with the lights al ready attached. Don’t
even need to string the lights on it. Just plug it in. It is now in our
living room void of all decorations. I guess boxing it up is a job for
today. Actually it doesn’t look all that bad standing there. Maybe if we had
a couple little birds perched on some of the limbs we could, aw forget
it.
Signs on a church: There is no key to
happiness. The door is always open. Come on in. Good idea?
Bible readings: (Mon.) Joshua
1:10-18; (Tues.) Hebrews 11:23-31; From (Wed.) Joshua 2:8:11; (Thurs.)
2:15-21; (Fri.) James 2:21-26; (Sat.) Matthew 1:1-6; (Sun.) Joshua 2:1-4,
11-14; 6:22-25.